Making the ordinary extrordinary, because all fine jewelry should be Exceptional
One of the best loved pieces at this year’s Coture and JCK shows, this five row spring cuff bracelet in 18 karat yellow gold features 1.15 carats of G VS diamonds that are bead set in 18 karat white gold bars. Flexible in style and execution (there are tiny steel wires inside to give it spring), [...]
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The term karat describes the purity or percentage of gold in an object. In use since the late 1500′s, the karat is divided into segments of 24: Pure gold is 24/24, or 24 karat. 18 karat gold, also known as 750 gold, is 18/24 parts, or 75% gold. 14 karat gold, also seen stamped as as “585″, [...]
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August’s birthstone is a bright lemony green, dark lime green, or olive green gem form of olivine called peridot [per-i-doh]. It is one of the few gemstones which exists in only one color range, and its saturation of color is determined by the amount of iron present as the gem crystallizes. This gem forms deep in the earth as [...]
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Even though most of us think of a carat as a measure of size, it’s actually a measure of weight. Historically, the carob seed was used on balance scales to determine weight for gemstones, and this is where our modern carat came from. A carat weighs 1/5 gram; further, a carat is divided into one [...]
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What was the most noticeable new trend at this year’s Las Vegas Jewelry Show? Jewelry with blackened features is this year’s fresh statement, bringing drama and visual depth to rings, earrings, and big cuffs. Many of the baubles in this year’s offerings are organic in feel and create a striking effect when paired with black rhodium. [...]
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Blue sapphire is the most commonly sold colored stone in fine jewelry, but why stick with blue when you can have any color you want? These gorgeous fancy colored sapphire sets and their rainbow layout inspire whimsical, light-hearted thoughts. Just picture them in a swirly ROYGBIV pendant or in a colorful straight line across a [...]
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This is an easy mixture of home cleaning products and water that can be made inexpensively and works well in between professional cleanings. You will need a glass jar with a lid, preferably screw on, that your hand can reach into. In the jar, mix the following in proportions of 1/3 each: Plain household ammonia [...]
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I’m a fierce proponent of thorough hand washing. But please, please leave your rings on when washing your hands in a public restroom. I know what you’re thinking. Oh, I’ve heard it before. You don’t want to get soap and lotion all over your ring. So you take it off “just for a sec” while [...]
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You’ve probably heard that you should have your jewelry appraised every two to three years. Most of us don’t watch the calendar that closely, though, and time goes by much faster than we realize. Ok, so what if it’s been five years since your last appraised valuation? Well, the price of gold today is two [...]
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You’re a regular guy. What to do when you find yourself with an extra diamond that’s set in a lady’s engagement ring? Scrap it and make something for yourself, like this:
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